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"There weren't many days that she did not have a smile," Everett added. "Our hearts are saddened that she'll not be with us and, even though she's in a better place, she will be greatly missed."

Superintendent Chester Juroska said Bowman was "a beloved employee" mourned by students and faculty.

She was a 1999 graduate of Alvarado High School who was working toward a college degree and a teacher's certificate, Juroska said. She was assigned to a computer lab where she worked with about 80 students each day, he said.

Bowman also coached the fifth- and sixth-grade spelling team for the academic University Interscholastic League competition, Juroska said. She also advised the scrapbooking club.

"I personally knew her well," the superintendent said. "I had mentored her on some assignments. But she is my daughter's age, which really comes home to me."

Grief counselors were sent to the school, Juroska said.

He noted that Bowman had a daughter in the first grade.

The accident happened at about 5 p.m. Thursday in the 5500 block of U.S. 67, near the intersection with County Road 810, Chief Allen said.

Bowman's 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt was struck by an eastbound 2009 Kenworth tractor-trailer that had just been involved in a collision with a 2007 Ford Focus, Allen said.

The truck driver, a woman from Ellis County, told police that the Focus, which had been south on CR 810, entered the intersection and hit the front left wheel of the truck.

The truck driver said the impact disabled the steering on the rig, which went out of control and into the path of the Cobalt, Allen said.

The driver of the Focus, an Alvarado-area woman, said the truck hit her car first, Allen said.

The acciden was still under investigation on Friday.

Two babies, ages 2 months and 18 months, were passengers in the Focus, but they were strapped into car seats, Allen said. The woman and the children were taken by ambulance to the hospital. They did not appear to have serious injuries, he said.